Amy Webb is an American special needs and disability advocate, and her debut book When Charley Met Emma truly is an embodiment of the work she has poured into educating the public about children with disabilities.
A young boy named Charley is scared at first when he sees Emma sitting in a wheelchair, because it is something different. However, when he gets to know her, he learns that she isn't that different after all, and actually a rather nice person. The theme of appreciating and understanding others is central to this children's book, and really builds up the author's goal of proving that disabilities are not something to be ashamed of.
Webb has stated that she has a child with special needs herself, so her own experiences have influenced the way in which she wrote the book. In the past, parents have told their children to move on and look away from children with special needs. While they are doing so in good faith, Webb argues through When Charley Met Emma that it is just as important for people to get to know the differently-abled people around them.
The illustrations in the story add an important message to the text as well. Artist and illustrator Merrilee Liddiard contributed the soft watercolor drawings to make children who read the book feel comfortable and safe. Together with the text, the images help children of all ages understand the message and importance of inclusion and diversity.
